The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed wide receiver Andy Isabella to the practice squad, the team announced on Friday morning. The Steelers had Isabella in for a workout on Oct. 1.
Isabella, 27, is a former second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft. In 33 career games, Isabella has recorded 33 receptions for 447 yards and three touchdowns.
Isabella spent four seasons with the Cardinals (2019-2022) before being waived by Arizona on Oct. 4, 2022. He was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens shortly after and spent the rest of the season in Baltimore.
Isabella spent last season with the Buffalo Bills. During the season, Isabella played in only two regular season games, and two playoff games. He signed a reserve/future contract with Buffalo on Jan. 22, 2024. He was released on Aug. 27.
Isabella led the entirety of FBS with 1,698 total receiving yards and 141.5 receiving yards per game at UMass, which was 207 total receiving yards and 24.0 more yards per game than the next receiver. He was also second in total receptions (102), third for receptions per game (8.5) and tied for sixth in touchdown receptions (13). Including his impact in the run and return game, Isabella ranked sixth in FBS for all-purpose yards per game (152.67), which placed him first out of all FBS players in New England and second among all wide receivers nationally.
At the combine, Isabella ran a 4.31 second 40 yard dash, which was the third fastest time at that year’s combine, tied with Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell. Isabella stands at 5-foot-9, 186 pounds. He’s a shifty slot receiver like Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller.
Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson suffered an aggravation of his hamstring injury in practice on Wednesday, a team source confirmed to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, and he was held out of practice on Thursday as a result.
Wilson first suffered the hamstring injury last Thursday while preparing for the Steelers’ Week 7 game against the New York Jets. He was listed as a limited participant in both Thursday’s and Friday’s practices and was listed as questionable, but was made inactive and did not play on Sunday night.
It appears to be a lost season for the rookie. Isabella could get elevated and serve a similar role to what the Steelers had planned for Wilson.
Isabella’s younger brother Joey is a senior receiver at Duquesne.